USC melts down in loss to ASU

Turnovers and penalties doomed the Trojans on Saturday night, ending a streak and shifting the race for the Pac-12 South championship.

USC turned the ball over four times, piled up 87 yards in penalties and lost to Arizona State, 43-22, at Sun Devil Stadium.

The Trojans had won the previous 11 games in the series. They had a chance to take what would have been a commanding lead in the South with a 2-0 record and victories over division rivals ASU and Utah. Instead, the Sun Devils (3-1) are tied for first in the division with UCLA at 1-0. No. 23 USC fell to 3-1, 1-1.

USC rallied from a 21-9 halftime deficit to take a 22-21 lead in the third quarter. After ASU went back on top, 28-22, the Trojans drove to the Sun Devils' 14-yard line. But on third-and-5, ASU's Greg Smith sacked USC quarterback Matt Barkley from the blind side, popping the ball loose. ASU's Bo Moos recovered. The Sun Devils then drove for the put-away touchdown, a 4-yard run by Cameron Marshall, who had 141 yards and three scores.

The seeds of the Trojans' comeback were planted on the opening possession of the second half. After a first half filled with mistakes and squandered opportunities, USC marched 65 yards to trim its deficit to 21-16. Five of the six plays were passes, including Barkley's 24-yard touchdown strike to Marqise Lee.

The Trojans' commitment to the pass opened up the running game the next time they had the ball. After gaining just 26 yards on 11 first-half carries, Marc Tyler suddenly found room to run. He gained 62 yards on six carries, capped by a 10-yard touchdown scamper that gave USC its first lead, 22-21.

It didn't last long. Arizona State immediately responded with a 76-yard touchdown drive, using its no-huddle offense to keep the USC defense on its heels. Marshall finished it with a 3-yard touchdown run up the middle.

The initial shock to USC's system came in the form of a 70-yard Marshall run on the opening possession. On first-and-10 from the ASU 30-yard line, the junior tailback scooted around left end and down the sideline. USC safety Jawanza Starling had a chance to knock Marshall out of bounds at the USC 20 but failed to do so. Less than two minutes into their first road game of 2011, the youthful Trojans trailed, 7-0.

The elements also were among USC's concerns, and they didn't disappoint. The temperature at kickoff was 98 degrees. Then, late in the first quarter, a dust storm blew through the stadium. With papers and napkins swirling through the desert air, Moos blew through the USC offensive line for a sack that derailed the Trojans' third drive.

Arizona State took advantage of favorable field position, a second personal-foul penalty against USC safety T.J. McDonald and an overturned fumble to make it 14-3. The officials initially ruled that Marshall fumbled on a first-and-goal run from the 5. But replays showed that his knee was down first. Two plays later, Brock Osweiler connected with Gerell Robinson for a 2-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone.

After USC drove for a field goal to make it 14-6, it appeared the game would swing in the Trojans' direction. Nickell Robey returned a punt 44 yards to the ASU 13. But on second-and-9 from the 12, ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict jumped into the path of a middle screen intended for Robert Woods. Burfict returned the ball 36 yards to the USC 48. That led to Osweiler's 3-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Miles, giving ASU a 21-6 lead.

The interception represented sweet revenge for Burfict, who has been battling Barkley since high school. This week, Barkley was quoted as saying of Burfict: "He's a dirty player. His switch is always on. And it's not a good switch."

In the first half, Burfict was guilty of an offside penalty that gave USC a re-kick on a missed field goal (the second try was good) and a personal foul that set up a field goal. But field goals were all the Trojans could muster, resulting in their 12-point halftime disadvantage.

NOTES

Backup linebackers Lamar Dawson (ankle) and Marquis Simmons (neck) did not make the trip. ... Starting cornerback Torin Harris left the game in the first half because of an injured right shoulder. ... Several fans brought signs poking fun at USC's postseason ban. Read one: "Have fun at your bowl game. Oh wait. Go ASU!"